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The Good Enough Home? Home Environment and Outcomes of Young Maltreated Children

Abstract

Background  

Mixed results in the literature related to type of permanent placement and developmental outcomes of maltreated children suggest
differences in postmaltreatment placement environments may be an important mechanism to consider.

Objective  

The goal of this study was to identify how home environment variables mediate risk in maltreated children in different types
of placements.

Methods  

Participants included 71 maltreated and 70 non-maltreated (mean age = 7.14). Child outcomes were caregiver report of behavior
problems (Child Behavior Checklist, CBCL) and cognitive assessment (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, PPVT, and Kaufman Brief
Intelligence Test, KBIT). The home environment was examined using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment
(HOME).

Results  

The maltreated and non-maltreated groups differed significantly on cognitive scores, F(6, 268) = 3.05, p < .01, behavior problems, F(18, 258) = 2.64, p < .001, and their home environments, F(14, 264) = 6.01, p < .001. Partial F tests predicting cognitive scores by group after controlling for HOME academic resources revealed mediation of cognitive
scores for the bio-kin group only and mediation of CBCL Withdrawal, Social Problems, and Attention Problems by HOME emotional
resources within the bio-kin group only. After controlling for SES in meditational analyses, within group differences were
only found for the bio-kin group and Attention problems.

Conclusions  

Results suggest that maltreated children returned to biological parents or placed with relatives may have greater need for
continued parenting support and academic resources; enhancing home environments so that they are both stimulating and cohesive
is necessary.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-16
  • DOI 10.1007/s10566-011-9157-3
  • Authors
    • Lara R. Robinson, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
    • Neil W. Boris, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
    • Sherryl Scott Heller, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
    • Janet Rice, Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
    • Charles H. Zeanah, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
    • Cinda Clark, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
    • Shantice Hawkins, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA